The EMD F7 was a 1,500 horsepower Diesel-electric locomotive produced between February 1949 and December 1953 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) and General Motors Diesel (GMD). Many F7s remained in service for decades, as railroads found them economical to operate and maintain. The Santa Fe railroad operated an extensive amount of EMD F7 diesel locomotives, many painted in the famous “Warbonnet” livery made famous by the Santa Fe’s passenger service.

The Athearn F7 itself also has a lush history. The first plastic one-piece body locomotive in the Athearn catalog for the time, in the 1950s. The Athearn F7 has been the train set locomotive of choice for over a generation of model railroaders.